Beauty & The Beast

BEAUTY & THE BEAST

Director : Bill Condon
Year : 2017
Genre : Fantasy
Rating : *1/2

Continuing Disney's trend of adapting their animated films into live action features, 'Bill Condon's long-awaited and bizarrely controversial 'Beauty & The Beast' is the latest big screen remake of a classic cartoon and the first to leave me asking the question, is this really the right path for the prestigious studio to be following?

The story is practically the same as that of it's animated counterpart. However, while the cartoon was a nifty 90 minute picture, this version of the tale as old as time scrapes the two hour mark, with a number of new and rather forgettable songs (courtesy of returning composer Alan Menken and lyricist Tim Rice) as well as a couple of subplots padding out the running time. Because what this immortal fable really needed was Belle and the Beasts backstories wasn't it? 

Whatever it's faults may be, it can't be denied that 'Beauty & The Beast' certain impresses on the visual front. The focal castle in which Belle is kept prisoner is a beautifully designed creation, full of intricate detailing and exquisite furnishings while the costumes designed by Jacqueline Durran perfectly echo those of the classic cartoon. Another highlight comes in the form of the character of Maurice (brilliantly played by Oscar winner Kevin Kline), Belles loving father who is by far the most likeable and interesting in the entire film. Unfortunately these are the only good elements of what is otherwise an unmemorable and rather infuriating viewing experience for anyone familiar with the 1991 original. 

Emma Watson is a fine actress but she is astonishingly bland here as our lead heroine who has no romantic chemistry whatsoever with her wholly unconvincing, and rather Krampus-like CGI co-star (voiced by 'Downton Abbey' alumni Dan Stevens) while Luke Evans catastrophically fails to capture the virile repugnancy and narcissistic hilarity of the antagonist Gaston. Even Josh Gad's Lefou, whose sexuality has created a wave of controversy amongst the bigots of the world, barely has anything to do except preen and prance around.

Meanwhile, on the voice cast front, Ewan McGregor is unrecognisable yet rather annoying as the terrifying talking candlestick Lumiere while the usually perfect Emma Thompson is simply unbearable as the dead-eyed talking Cockney teapot Mrs. Potts - a fact that really comes to light during her numerous song numbers and extended soliloquys.

In all honesty, this project was doomed from the start. The original cartoon is widely considered to be one of the greatest movies of all time - it was the first animated feature to be nominated for Best Picture after all - and in my opinion, there was absolutely nothing to improve upon. The characters are indelible, the music is wonderful and the glorious animation is still some of the best the studio has ever done. Everything in this version conversely feels forced and overdone, playing more like a swanky Broadway production rather than a satisfying cinematic experience.

Yes it may look lovely but when all is said and done, 'Beauty & The Beast' is yet another overlong, emotionally vapid and utterly pointless remake that fails to capture any of the magic of its far superior predecessor. Disney may be inviting you to be their guest but this is one invitation you'd do well to decline. 

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